FOOTBALL RANKED AS HIGH AS NO. 8 IN PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS

DURHAM, N.H.- The
University of New Hampshire football team has been ranked as high
as No. 8 in the nation in early preseason national polls and
rankings.

The Wildcats were ranked No. 8 in the recently released
“AnyGivenSaturday.com FCS National Poll” and No. 9 in
the “2009 Athlon Sports College Football Annual”.

The Wildcats, who advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals in
2008, finished the season as the Colonial Athletic
Association North Division Champion with a 10-3 overall record and
6-2 mark in the CAA. It was the fifth straight appearance for UNH
football in the tournament and the fourth time in five seasons UNH
made it to the quarterfinals.

Looking at the top 10 in the AGS poll, Richmond was No. 1,
followed by Appalachian State, Montana, Villanova, Northern Iowa,
James Madison, Southern Illinois, UNH, Weber State and Elon.

The top 10 in Athlon was slightly different with Appalachian State
at No. 1, followed by Richmond, Northern Iowa, Villanova, James
Madison, Montana, Weber State, Southern Illinois, UNH and
Wofford.

In addition, senior tight end Scott Sicko (Stillwater, N.Y.) has
been named to several FCS preseason All-America teams so far,
including Athlon’s. He has been named an All-American the
past two years.

The season is set to begin on Sept.
5 at home vs. St. Francis (Pa.) and tickets are available online at
www.unhwildcats.com.